TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2023//
TI  - Suicide trends in Jordan in correlation with the COVID-19 pandemic: a forensic medicine perspective
JO  - Curēus
A1  - Al-Sabaileh, Shrouq
A1  - Abusamak, Mohammad
A1  - Jaber, Hatim
A1  - Al-Buqour, Ali
A1  - Al-Salamat, Husam Ahmad
A1  - Sabayleh, Radwan Shaher
A1  - Hatamleh, Hamzeh
A1  - Deameh, Mohammad Ghassab
A1  - Al-Amer, Rasmieh M.
SP  - e42636
EP  - e42636
VL  - 15
IS  - 7
N2  - Background This study aimed to examine the suicide trends among Jordanians who died by suicide before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and assess their correlation with demographic data, including gender, age, marital status, and the method used for suicide, from a forensic medicine perspective. <br><br>METHODology This was a retrospective, observational, autopsy-based study. Of the 731 medicolegal autopsies performed at the Al-Hussein New Hospital at Al Salt City between 2017 and 2022, 41 confirmed cases of suicide were identified. <br><br>RESULTS The study indicated that 75% of the subjects committed suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic period, of whom 13% were children. The average age of those who died by suicide was 32.1 (SD = 12.2) years. Overall, 58.5% were single, 61.0% unemployed, and 53.7% had a mental illness. Males were four times more likely to commit suicide than females. Hanging represented 60.61% of all male suicides, followed by firearms (27.27%); however, females used poisoning. Around 60% and 25% of the study subjects were in the age group of 21-40 years and 41 and more, respectively. The study also identified a statistically significant association between gender, age, and the time of suicide (during COVID-19). The findings of this study could not confirm any association between suicide and mental illness, marital status, and employment status. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS The suicide rate in Jordan increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is alarming that most of those who committed suicide were at a young age and in their productive years.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2168-8184
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.7759/cureus.42636
ID  - ref1
ER  -